Overview

Definitiondynamic web pages

Server-Side & Client-Side technologies
Flash (Background, Application, Strength, IA
Considerations, Resources)
JavaScript (Background, Application, Strength, IA
Considerations, Resources)
Conclusion

Dynamic Web pages
First introduced in 1995 with the creation of
JavaScript
Multiple technologies of delivering interactive
content used
Two major categories of technologies:
a) Server-side technology
b) Client-side technology


Server-Side
Web pages are produced on-the-fly by server-side
programs, frequently based on parameters in the URL
or from an HTML form.

1)The browser sends an HTTP request. 2)The server retrieves the requested file
with the script. 3)The server executes the script or program which typically
outputs an HTML web page. 4)The server sends the HTML output to the
client's browser. 5)Example: www.google.com

Scripting Languages (PHP, Perl, Coldfusion, etc.) in
combination with database.
Client-Side
Web pages containing content that can change without
the actual HTML code being changed. Client-side
dynamic content is generated on the client's computer.

JavaScript: client-side scripting language.

Flash: an alternative approach to scripting language,
prepackages the scripted actions into a new file format.
Flash
First developed in 1995, currently Flash 8.0 version
Combine graphics, animation, sound and scripting
Use vector graphics
.swf and .fla formats
Software: MX Flash /SWiSH/Mix FX/Others
Flash Applications


Navigation menus
Headers
Website intros
Website advertisements
Flash sites
Flash games
FlashStrength
Catchy, high level of visual impact

Work well with HTML (<object> and <embed> tags)

Good for interactive games, educational sites


FlashIA Considerations
Bandwidth and load time constrains: take a long time to download
and consume vast amounts of bandwidth.

Usability constrains: break the back button, no control over text size,
standard colors for visited and unvisited links not work

Search engine constrains: The Google index does include pages that use
Flash. However, this is a new feature, so the crawlers may still experience problems
indexing Flash pages.)


JavaScript
First rollout in 1995, named Livescript, developed by
Netscape
Most important JavaScript event: early marriage with
HTML
JavaScript and Java (similar syntax)
Created for non-programmers (loosely typed scripting
language)



JavaScript Application
Form input value validation
Image rollover
Calculation
Pop-up windows

Sample ScriptForm Validation
Sample ScriptImage Rollover
JavaScript Strength
Speed: fast, code functions run immediately on the users computer

Simplicity: relatively simple to learn and implement

Versatility: plays nicely with other languages, can be inserted into
any web page regardless of the file extension.

Server load: reduces the demand on the site server.
JavaScript IA considerations
Security: the code executes on the users computer, it can be exploited
for malicious purposes

Cross-platform issues: Some browsers don't support the language
or they don't support all aspects of the language.


Conclusion
Need for interaction on web pages is diverse.
No single technology is dominant for a specific
dynamic feature.
Based on users, content and context, information
architects can consider different technologies.
Just because it can be done, doesn't mean you have to
do it.